Characterization of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) expression in soft tissue sarcomas: distinct prognostic impact of MCT1 sub-cellular localization

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Pinheiro, C (Author) Other; Penna, V (Author) Other; Morais Santos, F (Author) Other; Abrahao Machado, LF (Author) Other; Ribeiro, G (Author) Other; Curcelli, EC (Author) Other; Olivieri, MV (Author) Other; Morini, S (Author) Other; Valenca, I (Author) Other; Ribeiro, D (Author) Other; Fernando Schmitt (Author) FMUP; Reis, RM (Author) Other; Baltazar, F (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Translational Medicine

Vol. 12

Final page: 118

ISSN: 1479-5876

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 34 Citations

Scopus - 37 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-HYZ

DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-12-118

Abstract (EN): Background: Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are a group of neoplasms, which, despite current therapeutic advances, still confer a poor outcome to half of the patients. As other solid tumors, STSs exhibit high glucose consumption rates, associated with worse prognosis and therapeutic response. As highly glycolytic tumors, we hypothesized that sarcomas should present an increased expression of lactate transporters (MCTs). Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of MCT1, MCT2, MCT4 and CD147 was assessed in a series of 86 STSs and the expression profiles were associated with patients' clinical-pathological parameters. Results: MCT1, MCT4 and CD147 were mainly observed in the plasma membrane of cancer cells (around 60% for MCTs and 40% for CD147), while MCT2 was conspicuously found in the cytoplasm (94.2%). Importantly, we observed MCT1 nuclear expression (32.6%). MCT1 and MCT4, alone or co-expressed with CD147 in the plasma membrane, were associated with poor prognostic variables including high tumor grade, disease progression and shorter overall survival. Conversely, we found MCT1 nuclear expression to be associated with low grade tumors and longer overall survival. Conclusions: The present work represents the first report of MCTs characterization in STSs. We showed the original finding of MCT1 expression in the nucleus. Importantly, opposite biological roles should be behind the dual sub-cellular localization of MCT1, as plasma membrane expression of MCT1 is associated with worse patients' prognosis, while nuclear expression is associated with better prognosis.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11